Violin



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. B. GLOPTON. VIOLIN.

No. 496,397. Patented May 2, 1898.

Inventor. J, Clo viOh A Witnesses:

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. J. B. OLOPTON. VIOLIN No. 496,397. Patented May 2, 1893.

Inventor. Clo ian) Witnesses.-

& Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. CLOPTON, OF BASTROP, TEXAS.

VIOLIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,397, dated May 2, 1893.

Serial No. 443.677. (N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. CLOPTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bastrop, in the county of Bastrop and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Violins; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a vertical trans-- verse section. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the belly inside. Fig. 3 is a detail view of sound post. Fig. 4 is a modification in transverse section. Fig.5 is a modification in longitudinal section, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the back inside.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in violins, and like instruments, and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter specified.

The objects I have in view, are, first, to improve the acoustical properties of the instrument whereby it is enabled to give forth a deeper and softer tone, free from the twang common in instruments of this character, and second, to improve the mechanical construction of the instrument so that it will be less liable to become split. In ordinary instruments, the sound post is placed inside the instrument, one end resting on the back, and the other end supporting the belly somewhere near the foot 0 of the bridge.

Referring to Fig. 1. of the accompanying drawings wherein, the letter A designates the back, B the belly, and C the bridge, it will be apparent that that part of the belly which rests upon the sound post will be deadened, or prevented vibration, and also that that portion of the belly from the sound post to a, must vibrate in a contrary direction to that portion between the sound post and a, and that therefore the instrument will give harsh sounds. To obviate this to some extent, the

sound post has been set from one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch behind the foot of the bridge, but by so doing, the effect of said post as a fulcrum for the bridge is destroyed;

the foot 0 is free to vibrate with a tendency opposite that of the foot 0. It has therefore been a problem where to locate the post to secure the best results, inasmuch as wherever it is placed, it acts as a complete damper to that part of the top which it touches. To overcome this objection, and accomplish the first object of the invention, I drill a hole d through the belly, and allow the end of the sound post D to project through said hole and support the foot 0 of the bridge just high enough to allow the whole top to vibrate without touching either the bridge or sound post at this point. I may also make the hole (1 of larger diameter, from one-half to three-fourths of an inch, and fasten over it a drum head F of thin skin. This drum head rests on the sound post, while the foot of the bridge rests on the drum head. I prefer however, the construction first described.

In order to hold the upper portion of the sound post centrally in the hole d, and prevent its coming in contact with the lateral sides thereof, a small shallow hole should be made in the bottom of each foot of the bridge. The end of the sound post is seated in one, as shown, and a short peg G, glued into the belly and resting in the other, will prevent any lateral movement of the bridge.

To prevent the post coming in contact with the front or rear wall of the hole, said post is formed with a broad base K, having two feet k, k, which stand on the back. These feet when the post is once rightly placed, may be secured with glue.

'In carrying out the second object of the invention, I provide the arrangement best shown in Fig. 2. K is the ordinary sound bar, or base bar, and L, L, are two ribs, running transversely across the interior of the instrument. These ribs are glued fast to the belly, and also where they join the base bar; or they may be integral with the belly, and the base bar notched to receive them where they cross the latter. The tone may be tempered easily by making these ribs quite stifl. at first, and cutting them down after they are glued in until the tone is softened to the taste. In instruments where the top is very thin and weak, additional ribs M, M may be employed, as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 6. These transverse ribs act to prevent the top from splitting, and do not deaden its vibration.

In the back of the instrument is a longitudinal bar P, and a single transverse rib 19 running across said back at about the narrowest part of the instrument. When an ordinary sound post is employed, its foot should rest on the bar P at the point where the transverse rib crosses it, but if the double foot post is used, the feet should rest at about the points 19, 19 This arrangement permits the back to be made much lighter than at present used, and being stiffened by these ribs will vibrate more readily with any note, the back and belly being of equal weight and of equal elasticity. In the belly, the sound posts being in the way, the ribs cannot be placed directly under the bridge, so that one is situated at each side of said posts.

In Fig. 5. I have shown a further improvement, which I find to greatly improve the tone of the instrument. S, S, are two sound posts, formed of cork, or other suitable elastic material, and interposed between the back and belly, one near each end. Said posts being elastic do not prevent vibration, but act as a partial damper to destroy false vibrations, and give theinstrument a soft flute-like tone. This improvement may be used to advantage in instruments constructed on the ordinary plan, or may be used in combination with-the features above described.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A violin .or like instrument, having a hole cut in its top or face, a sound post having its upper portion received within said hole, and held from contact with the walls thereof, said post having a broad base and two feet upon which it rests, substantially as specified.

2. A violin or like instrument, having a hole cut in its top, and a diaphragm held between the foot of the bridge and the end of the sound post, over said hole, substantially as specified.

3. In a violin or like instrument, the combination with the bridge having the shallow holes or recesses in its feet, and the top having the hole therein under one of said feet, of the sound post having its upper portion projecting through said hole and into engagement with the recess in said foot, and a peg glued in the belly of the instrument and seated in the other of said feet, substantially as specified.

4:. In a violin or like instrument, a sound post having a broad base, and two feet, upon which it rests, substantially as specified.

5 A violin or like instrument, having in connection with the longitudinal bar K, one or more ribs running transversely across-the inside of the belly, and affixed to the face or top, substantially as specified.

6. A violin or like instrument, having its back provided with a longitudinal bar P, and with a transverse rib p, intersecting said bar and situated at about the narrowest part of the instrument, substantially as specified.

7. Aviolin orlike instrument, havinginterposed between its back and bellytwo sound posts of suitable elastic material, as cork, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. OLOPTON. WVitnesses:

J. L. 1-1001), C. O. HIGHSMITH. 

